Daiki win puts Kameda brothers in history books

Daiki Kameda of Japan, left, lands a left straight on Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico at the IBF super flyweight title match on Tuesday in Takamatsu, Japan.

Photo: AFP

Japan’s Daiki Kameda beat Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico on points on Tuesday to secure the vacant IBF super flyweight title and a place in the history books for himself and his two brothers.

The 24-year-old’s victory by a unanimous verdict meant that the Kamedas, once known for their crude behavior in and out the ring, have become the first trio of brothers to hold world boxing titles at the same time. Daiki’s elder brother, Koki, 26, is the current WBA bantamweight champion, while younger brother Tomoki, 22, holds the WBO bantamweight title.

When Tomoki won his title last month, the Kamedas became the first trio of brothers to have held world titles at separate points in their careers. Only eight pairs of brothers have held world titles simultaneously.

The IBF third-ranked Kameda used his footwork to dodge fourth-ranked Guerrero, a former holder of the IBF super flyweight title, who tried to fight in close range and switched between left-handed and right-handed stances.

There was a moment of suspense in the tenth round when Kameda’s short one-two hooks to the face left the Mexican tottering, but Guerrero fought Kameda’s flurry of punches to wage an exhaustive slugfest.

The three US judges all scored in Kameda’s favor. Glenn Feldman carded it 114-112, Eugene Grant 116-110 and Robert Hoyle 117-109.

Kameda, a former WBA flyweight champion, was slapped with a one-point penalty twice for a low blow in the fifth and 11th rounds.

Guerrero disputed the scorecard, saying: “I thought I was slightly ahead on points.”

“My opponent was deducted a point twice. In particular, two judges gave such a big margin, which is unreasonable,” he added.

Kameda’s record improved to 29 wins, 18 of them by knockout, and three losses.

It was the 25-year-old Mexican’s fifth loss against 19 wins, 12 of them by knockout, and one draw.

It was also Kameda’s first world-title bout since he bowed to WBA super-flyweight champion Tepparith Kokietgym of Thailand in 2011.

“I am really happy to join my brothers [as champions],” a tearful Kameda said on the ring as his siblings, who had earlier helped in from his corner, looked on.

“Now we are the world’s No. 1 brothers and I want you to keep on supporting us. I have always been told that if I stuck to my game plan I would win, but in my last fight, I lost because my emotions got the better of me,” he added.

Guerrero said that the Japanese “moved better than I expected.”

The fight was the first IBF title bout in Japan since the Japan Boxing Commission joined boxing’s world governing body in April.